NEW Earswick All Blacks ALRC are poised to rise to second in Pennine League championship one - without even playing a game.

The All Blacks currently lie third in the table but rumours are rife that second-placed Dewsbury Moor, who edged the York side earlier this month, are to be the latest club to leave the Pennine League after being accepted into the National Conference ranks.

Jack Stearman’s men will, in any case, look to consolidate their high-riding position - and their 100 per cent home record - when Brotherton Bulldogs visit White Rose Avenue on Saturday (2pm).

Joked the player-coach: “Brotherton let us down in pre-season when pulling out of two fixtures so we’ll want to make them pay for that.

“We haven’t played them before so it’s new territory but we have won every game at home and obviously want that to continue.”

As for Dewsbury, he added: “It looks like they’ve been accepted into the NCL so we might move up a place, regardless of what happens this weekend.”

All Blacks began last week’s President’s Cup loss at Bentley Good Companions with a squad of only 16 men after two late withdrawals due to injury, and they played the second half with only 11, after Adam Kirby (ankle), Rhys Blake (knee), Joe Smith (head), Jack Sinclair (head) and Stearman himself (ribs) departed with injury.

Kirby and Blake remain sidelined this weekend with the other three facing late tests, but big prop Nic Caldwell returns.

Stearman added: “Last week was tough but the lads gave 100 per cent. We were missing a couple of key men as well and obviously the injuries left us with a mountain to climb.

“Our previous performance against Dewsbury Moor and also against Bentley in the first half, when we were well in the game, have shown we can push for a top spot in this division.”

Sherburn Bears will look to maintain their unbeaten home record in division four as Dewsbury Celtic come to visit.

The Bears made it six wins from six on home soil thanks to a last-minute try by winger Lloyd Harrison against fellow promotion hopefuls Dearne Valley Bulldogs last week.

Selby Warriors go to lowly West Bowling ‘A’ needing the spoils to put breathing space between themselves and the drop zone.